Harwinton Ambulance Capt. Aaron Franzi with another volunteer in the current ambulance building.

Harwinton >> A supplemental appropriation of $425,000 for a new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Facility will be one topic discussed at a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The approval of this additional appropriation - $325,000 from the Town of Harwinton’s surplus fund and $100,000 in funds raised by Harwinton Ambulance - would fill a funding gap and allow the project to move forward.

The site of the new EMS building, at 166 Burlington Road, is, “shovel ready,” according to Harwinton Ambulance Chief Jason Emery. The town purchased the property from Drake Petroleum last January for $325,000 out of a state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) grant.

The full grant was worth $970,000, and approximately $645,000 remains. But that money will not be enough to complete the project, according to First Selectman Mike Criss.

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A shortfall of $425,000 exists on the project, which results from pricing inflation over the last three years and additional state Department of Transportation requirements.

The project has taken this long to get off of the ground due to steps in the process, including the purchasing of insurance and reviews by the DOT and the DECD, taking longer than expected.

When town officials recognized the funding gap, Criss said it was, “their responsibility to take the matter back to the taxpayers.” Residents approved the proposed project in 2011 by margin of 527-308.

Criss and Emery both said they never wanted to have to come back to the town requesting the approval of more money. The goal is to build the new facility, “all in one shot” to preserve the long term investment, said Criss. The last thing the group wants to do is piece meal the project, which could end up costing the town more in the long run.

Following the town meeting on Jan. 21, the appropriation will be voted on by referendum on Jan. 28.

The money needs to be secured in order to break ground on the project. The goal is to move forward before July 1 when the prevailing wage is set to increase, which would add to the overall cost.

Criss has been working with Wagner and Associates to apply for additional money through STEEP grants and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Any money that is acquired will reimburse the town’s surplus account. Criss said he’s confident they will receive some state funding.

“Even if it’s just $50,000, it’s something,” said Criss.

While it has been approximately three years since the town approved the new EMS Facility, the project has been a goal of the ambulance department for close to 20 years when they first outgrew their current location in a single bay of the Harwinton Volunteer Fire Department’s building, said Emery.

The town’s two ambulances are forced to park front to back in the bay, leaving only a small walkway around the vehicles. There’s no room to wash the trucks in the bay, which causes problems in the winter when road salt is abundant. Insufficient space leaves no room to properly store state equipment and records. The break room is uncomfortable at best, according to Captain Aaron Franzi, with only two bunks, a sofa and chair available for overnight shifts. There are no showers on site, which violates Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, and only one bathroom.

“Over the last two years we’ve had four instances where we had to open the [Emergency Operations Center (EOC)]. It showed us the significance of what was lacking,” said Emery.

There isn’t room in the current Ambulance Building to set up the radio equipment required during a storm. The Town Hall has been designated as the town’s EOC, but Emery said that space isn’t sufficient either.

Emergency Management Director Vinny Wheeler said the radio equipment is stored in the basement and it takes him about three hours to set it all up.

During an emergency there’s no space for private meeting rooms or a separate area for dispatchers to take calls. The building also lacks showers and beds for emergency personnel to stay overnight.

Having space for all of these purposes in the new building will be, “efficient from a fiscal standpoint,” said Emery.

About three years ago, Emery asked the town to evaluate the cost of the volunteer fire department against the cost of using a commercial service.

“What we found was that the ambulance saves the town about $305,000 every year,” said Emery. “Rather than focus on this as an expenditure, people should look at it as a reinvestment of savings we provide every year.”

Of the new EMS Facility, Emery said there are, “no frills.” The new building includes only what the department needs to operate effectively.

Criss said it is an, “investment in public safety that will allow us to operate at the best level we possibly can.”

“If we didn’t have [the emergency services department] through the last several storms, I’m not sure where we’d be today,” said Criss.

The town meeting will take place on Jan. 21 in the Assembly Room of the Harwinton Town Hall at 7 p.m. The item will then be voted on by referendum on Jan. 28 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on the EMS Facility contact Town Hall at 860-485-9051.

About the Author

Kate Hartman works as a writer for Connecticut Magazine and formerly covered the towns of Harwinton, Burlington, New Hartford, Barkhamsted and Canton for The Register Citizen. Reach the author at khartman@registercitizen.com
or follow Kate on Twitter: @CTMagKate.